지저분한
jijeobunhan
The English word 'messy' is translated into Korean as 지저분한 (jijeobunhan).
지저분한 is an adjective used to describe something in a disorderly state or something that is causing mess, confusion or chaos. Specifically, this form is an attributive adjective, meaning it is used to modify a noun, such as in the phrase 지저분한 방 (a messy room).
Meaning: in a disorderly state, causing mess or confusion, chaotic, disorderly (adj)
Which one should you use?
지저분한 focuses on things being dirty or unclean. In contrast, the word 어지러운 is used specifically for things that are physically cluttered or out of order.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of this adjective is 지저분하다, which means 'to be messy'. When you want to say 'it is messy' in a sentence, you change the form based on politeness: use 지저분해요 for the polite version and 지저분해 for the informal, non-polite version.
How do you pronounce it?
jijeobunhan
Did you know?
- If a person's handwriting is 'messy', Koreans will typically use the word 악필 (ak-pil) rather than describing it with '지저분한'.
- The concept of a 'messy' or 'chaotic' lifestyle is often captured by the expression 엉망진창, which adds a rhythmic, repetitive quality to emphasize the scale of the mess.
- In Korean, calling a person 지저분한 사람 (a messy person) can be a heavy social insult, implying they are not just disorganized but also unclean or unhygienic.
Examples in context
- 정부의 계획은 뒤죽박죽이다.The government's plan is chaotic.
- 방이 너무 지저분한 것 같아요.bang-i neomu jijeobunhan geot gat-ayo.I think the room is very messy.
- 지저분한 옷들을 정리했어요.jijeobun-han ot-deul-eul jeong-ri-haesseoyo.I organized the messy clothes.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Seoyeon are cleaning the living room together.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo거실이 너무 지저분한 것 같지 않아?geosil-i neomu jijeobunhan geot gat-ji ana?Don't you think the living room is too messy?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 같이 빨리 치우자.eung, gat-i ppalli chiuja.Yes, let's clean it up quickly together.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo여기 있는 쓰레기부터 버릴게.yeogi it-neun sseuregi-buteo beorilge.I'll throw away the trash here first.
- 서연 Seo-yeon고마워, 현우야.gomawo, Hyeonu-ya.Thanks, Hyunwoo.
